The garden centre that began a British obsession

The Stewart family has been in the nursery business for nearly three centuries

It has been 70 years since Edward Stewart, founder of Stewarts Garden Centres, opened a shed at his nursery, selling potted plants and garden supplies.

The site in Ferndown, Dorset, is believed to be the UK's first garden centre, revolutionising horticulture and making gardening accessible to the masses.

He had the idea while in the USA - as well as being a plantsman, he was also a pilot and had been delivering a Dakota to Miami from Bournemouth.

On his return journey, from a hotel in Toronto, he wrote to his sisters, saying: "I've seen the future - it's called garden centres."

The family has been in the nursery business for almost three centuries - records show they were growing forestry trees in Scotland as far back as 1742.

In 1859, the business relocated to Dorset to take advantage of the milder climate.

More branches were opened in the early 1900s but plants were sold straight from the ground and there was no sales area for the public.

Edward's letter explained the concept of "so-called garden centres"

Edward's son, Martin Stewart, who is now managing director, said gardeners from large estates would visit the nurseries in the summer months.

"They would label the trees and shrubs they'd want and when the first frosts arrived - that's when we lifted the plants."

He said Edward's "first love" had been flying, having served with the RAF as a Mosquito pilot during World War Two, and he continued to fly after the war.

"The second world war absolutely knocked the stuffing out of us," explained Martin.

"Our business was decimated.

"He got asked if he would return a Dakota from Bournemouth Hurn Airport... to Miami in Florida.

"He wrote this letter to his three sisters and he said 'I've seen the future - it's called garden centres'."

Amy Stewart said her grandfather had created a British hobby

Edward's daughter, Susie Stewart, said: "In those days there were no plastic pots, so our guys collected jam tins, coffee tins... from all around Bournemouth, from hotels, schools."

This evolution meant plants could be sold all year-round and planted immediately.

In 1956, a year after opening Broomhill, a cafe was added selling tea and biscuits.

Then, in 1961, the first purpose-built garden centre - Garden Lands - was opened in Christchurch by TV presenter Percy Thrower.

Amy Stewart, Edward's granddaughter, said: "I would absolutely love my grandfather to see it now.

"He created a whole industry. We now get to enjoy our gardens - we wouldn't have done before garden centres.

"What he's done is create a British hobby."